Early in May I had a full week of finals – five exams, five days, six subjects. I was determined to do well on my exams so that I can glorify God and so that I don’t hurt anyone by giving them the wrong diagnosis or medication (I’m in medical school). Up until then, I had being doing very well on my exams and I had been attending every Sabbath service.
Faced with an overwhelming amount of material to memorize and very little time in between each exam to cram, I decided early in April not to attend Sabbath service anymore and to just attend Friday night Bible study instead because, after all, Friday night is Sabbath, too. And, I still read the Bible and pray everyday, so I hoped that God would be forgiving.
For four consecutive Sabbaths, I stayed at home to study. Then the dreadful week came.
First test. I felt so defeated. I felt like Eeyore… my tail had fallen off. But there was another test the next day so I put aside the frustration and trudged on.
Second test. I felt so defeated. Frustration set in because I failed to memorize. Panic set in because I failed to tell the difference between an infection in the lungs from an infection in the bladder. Doubt set in because I felt like I would make a terrible doctor. Once again my tail fell off.
Third test. Defeated. I had focused my studies on the wrong areas.
Are you catching on? I did. As I prayed, I asked God why I was doing so poorly. I was trying so hard to glorify His Name and yet my preparation and performance turned out to be so weak. Then a thought bolted like lightning into my head. God answered me.
If I do not honor His Sabbath, then I am not worthy of glorifying His Name.
I felt defeated, but at the same time I was really excited because this lesson came from God. I was sad for my foolishness, but thrilled at the opportunity to wise up. I repented.
Fourth test. Less defeated. I repented more.
Fifth test. I won. I ended up scoring highest on this test, but that’s not why I really won. By this time, I understood my mistake and was trying to change my attitude and actions to be more pleasing to God. The progress I make in my faith is my real victory.
Isaiah 58:13-14:
13 “ If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
From doing your pleasure on My holy day,
And call the Sabbath a delight,
The holy day of the LORD honorable,
And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways,
Nor finding your own pleasure,
Nor speaking your own words,
14 Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD;
And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth,
And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father.
The mouth of the LORD has spoken.”
Thanks for sharing this. Every Sabbath, i spent 3 to 4 hours (per trip) to TJC Bangkok but still I managed to get an excellent grade for my Master thesis.
so, hallelujah. 🙂
I totally agree…
In the past year I always put Sabbath first, and I always went to Friday night service. And even I missed a lot of academic opportunities such as review sessions on Friday night, I still did pretty well in my classes (almost strait A’s).
But last week I don’t feel confident enough for the o-chem midterm , so I decided to to go to review session Friday night instead of service. I felt much more confident about the material afterwards, however, almost nothing covered on the review session was on the midterm.
After I came out of that midterm yesterday, I felt disheartened and defeated. Why did I choose to rely on the chariots instead of God?
Yeah, though people may think jty’s experience is an isolated experience, my own high school and college experience has attested to her conclusion. Indeed Matthew 6:33 — seek ye first the kingdom of God, and all these things … grades/studies too will be given to you. It’s pretty weird, and counter-intuitive: draw close to God, grades usually get better. Ultimately, God is teaching us about priorities in our hearts.
I’m sure many others experienced this phenomenon too.
it is real, as our God is really there and with us if we abide in Him.
whatever He had promised to us He deliver as He is Truthful in nature.
His aim is to encourage and for us to continue in the right path as the chances for us to be saved and entering the heavenly kingdom will be greater and certainly we will become a better or stronger person in the eyes of God and men as well.
therefore we need to take heed our thought and action is it in line with the teaching of God or the truth.
I feel quite disturbed though. And I should not. But I was approached by someone asking me where is our evidence for our faith in accordance with the Bible verse in Revelation 12:17 & 19:10. He said that we should have the evidence mentioned in those verses. We are keeping God’s commandments but I am confused about ‘Testimony of Jesus’. Isn’t it the Bible or the New Testament?
Somebody please help me with my confusion…
hi albert madin in Christ, testimony is a declaration presented by a witness as an evidence.
therefore testimony of Jesus, is a declaration of faith in Jesus Christ.
yes, the bible new or old testament is a testimony of Jesus Christ (refer to Jn 5:39).
rev 12:17 & 19:10 in madarin version, it is translated as “those whom testify for Jesus”.
hope the above help to clarify ‘Testimony of Jesus’.